SPUR AVIATION SERVICES LC

PILOT TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF AND USED THE RUDDER SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BOTH ON THE GROUND AND DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. WHEN IN THE AIR HE NOTICED A LACK OF YAW CONTROL DURING A CLIMBING TURN, THE FLIGHT WAS ABORTED AND A NORMAL LANDING ACCOMPLISHED. UPON INSPECTION WE FOUND THE RIVETS ATTACHING THE LOWER RUDDER TUBE PN 420144-1 TO THE TUBE FITTING PN 420015-501 WERE SHEARED, WHICH CAUSED THE RUDDER SYSTEM TO BE INOP. THE NIGHT BEFORE THIS FLIGHT A HIGH WIND CONDITION OCCURRED WITH STRONG ENOUGH WINDS TO CAUSE THE RUDDER LOCK TO SLIP OFF AND ALLOW THE RUDDER TO BE PUSHED AROUND. A VISUAL INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED THE MORNING OF THE FLIGHT WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED AND ALL RIVET HEADS ON THE TUBE FITTINGS WERE PRESENT, HIDING THE SHEARED RIVETS UNDERNEATH.

PILOT NOTICED HYDRAULIC FLUID ON THE RIGHT HAND MAIN LANDING GEAR AUXILIARY RETRACTION CYLINDER SHAFT. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF THE RETRACT CYLINDER THE SHAFT O-RING HAD A SMALL TEAR IN IT. AFTER O-RINGS AND BACKUP RINGS WERE REPLACED THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUT ON JACKS, GEAR RETRACTIONS AND EMERGENCY EXTENSION CHECKS WERE ACCOMPLISHED WITH OPERATIONS FOUND TO NORMAL AND NO LEAKS WERE NOTED.

O-RING IN THE LT MLG RETRACT CYLINDER FAILED WHICH ALLOWED THE HYD SYS OIL TO DRAIN. O-RING WAS MOST LIKELY DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION. DURING INSTALLATION OF THIS PART O-RING LUBE OR HYDRAULIC OIL MUST BE USED TO KEEP UNIT FROM BEING DAMAGED.

PILOT REPORTED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON LANDING. CAUSE WAS NOTED TO BE RELATED TO DAMAGE IN THE OVERCENTER DRAGBRACE MOUNTING AREA DUE TO THE AIRCRAFT BY PERSONS TOWING IT WHILE ON THE GROUND. THIS LOOSENED MOUNTING RIVETS, THE DRAGBRACE FITTING AND TUNNEL AREA SKINS WHICH AFFECTED THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE GEAR DOWN ASSIST SPRING, ALLOWING THE GEAR TO RETRACT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED THE GROUND DUE TO INSUFFICIENT DOWNLOCK PRESSURE. (K)

PILOT REPORTED THE NLG COLLAPSED ON LANDING. CAUSE WAS NOTED TO BE RELATED TO DAMAGE IN THE OVERCENTER DRAGBRACE MOUNTING AREA DUE TO MISHANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY PERSONS TOWING IT WHILE ON THE GROUND. THIS LOOSENED MOUNTING RIVETS, THE DRAGBRACE FITTING AND TUNNEL AREA SKINS WHICH AFFECTED THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE GEAR DOWN ASSIST SPRING, ALLOWING THE GEAR TO RETRACT WHEN THE ACFT TOUCHED THE GROUND DUE TO INSUFFICIENT DOWNLOCK PRESSURE. (K)